U.S. U-17 MNT Drops Match, 2-1, to Ireland

NewsApr 26, 2007

LARNE, Northern Ireland (April 25, 2007) - The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team dropped their third match at the Ballymena International Tournament in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, falling 2-1 to Ireland after defeating the Czech Republic one day earlier.

All three goals were scored in the first half as Ireland went ahead 2-0 with goals in the 17th and 29th minutes.

The U.S. pulled one back in the 36th minute when the squad earned a free kick on the left flank. Scott Caldwell served the ball into the center, where Kofi Sarkodie got his head on it. The ball crossed the box to Gale Agbossoumonde, who headed it home.

The U.S. U-17 Men face Israel in the third-place match on Thursday, April 26. Ireland and Northern Ireland will face off for the tournament title. The U.S. has never won the Ballymena International Tournament, coming up short four times in the championship match out of five overall appearances. In 2000, the U.S. finished fourth, but had reached the final the past four consecutive years in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 only to fall to Israel (1-2), Switzerland (3-4 in penalties), Czech Republic (0-1) and Czech Republic again (0-1).